Former Union J member George Shelley has unveiled his new band Lightlines along with the band's debut single ‘Wasted'.
Fronted by Shelley, the band includes Alex Pothecary (electric guitars) and Will Jackson (drums / production). Take a listen to ‘Wasted' below:
‘Wasted' introduces fans to Lightlines' sound, which combines pop hooks with a gritty rock edge. It showcases a new side of Shelley who is better-known for his pop tunes with Union J, who rose to fame via ‘The X Factor'.
Shelley says, “I wrote ‘Wasted’ in the aftermath of a breakdown. It’s me reclaiming my power, my self-worth and setting boundaries. ‘Wasted’ is about saying no, taking back control of life and the release that comes with finally letting go. It’s a proper play on the word ‘Wasted’, what we waste our energy on, the things we do and the people we become under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the frustration towards controlling environments that stifle your creativity, diminish your identity and silence your voice. Basically, it’s about the cycle of wasting life by getting wasted when you’re in a bad place.”
‘Wasted’ was written by Shelley and was produced by the band’s drummer, Will Jackson, with Alex Pothecary on guitars and bass. Lightlines have plenty of songs ready to unleash, and they are influenced by the likes of Foo Fighters, Florence + The Machine and Nothing But Thieves.
Shelley has spent time over the past few years freelancing as a graphic designer and content creator. He met Alex working at a coffee shop, who then became his boss as George picked up extra shifts as a barista to save money to spend on his passion for music. Later learning that Alex has a masters in musical composition, the two went through George’s 300+ songs and shaped what is now Lightlines' first body of work. Will came on the scene when George overheard him talking about music production in another local cafe. The trio have spent the last seven months shaping their sound together and are excited to share what they have achieved.
